The bravest aren’t calm, they are honest. To those who are working to be honest with themselves I want to say Rock On! Those working to be honest with others, Fuck Yeah! Those working to let go, Get It!

I can’t tell you how many times I have prolonged my own misery by choosing to avoid what I was so sure would be an embarrassment. Or how many times I pushed others away by holding on to the hurt. Those old triggers come and we lock down. But stepping out of that cycle doesn’t require perfect communication, or profound insight. Healthy change starts out raw, uncomfortable, sometimes with snot filled tears. Maybe we learned that feelings were dangerous, weak, or too much. Maybe we internalized that we are dangerous, weak, or too much. Feeling our feelings is defiance against all that would make us less than who we are. And letting them in is pure courage. Rock On to all you searchers and breakers of the cycle.

Letting feelings go is equally amazing and I’m not sure which I admire more. Letting feelings go doesn’t mean abandoning our needs, it may in fact be the thing that lets us better advocate. But this cannot happen without real acceptance. We can honor what happened without being shackled to it. Watching others decide to show up even when life is unfair makes my whole body brim with pride. You are Amazing!

Therapy takes us to the painful places where we lock away our feelings and opening up is pain. I am so proud of what you’re doing. Your feelings matter, you are capable of resilience, and your path through all of this is uniquely beautiful. Keep it Up!